Svett Henstrong
"I'm telling you, this is an opportunity for you if that's the case. For the right price, The Silver Stars could bring the foxkin and woman bound before you. It wouldn't be necessary for you to get involved yourself."
A devilish smirk appeared on my face after hearing Talio's keen interest in Clarice and her lap dog. This was a big-time opportunity for my party, and I aim to seize it with both hands. Talio and I have worked together before on his extracurricular jobs, which he sometimes undergoes, but this recent one interests me. There doesn't appear to be anything too special about the lady noble and her foxkin assistant, but if they are in Talio's sight, I pity them.
We finally reached the resting room, which his party had reserved as their office. His strides were purposeful as the crimson-haired elf made himself comfortable in one of the couches. His eyes were relaxed as if he was not concerned about the foxkin and his mistresses, but he had talked the whole way about them.
"Your offer is generous, but seeing the foxkin like this has me thinking unpleasant thoughts. My clients notified me that this particular foxkin is abnormal. They believe that he's from Biikar, which means he's more cunning than the bottom feeders you are used to. Even my subordinates cautioned my deal with him, which was her first encounter with him." Talio said confidently.
"Cedarro might have failed, but Yami and Yomi are on a different level. If Cedarro's wrath nearly killed him, then Yomi's will surely put him down. Lend me the extra manpower and give me a seventy-five percent cut from the goblin settlement extermination. I'll see to it that the foxkin is tragically overwhelmed by goblins. His mistress would have mysteriously vanished and presumably dragged off to be ravaged by the beastly creatures." I proposed, and he considered it.
Regarding wolf demi-humans, Yami and Yomi were a cut above their brethren. I have no doubts that they could defeat a simple foxkin. Cedarro is, at best, a D-ranked nobody, but my boys are well-known for a reason. Of course, I wouldn't say that to Talio since the man was considering my offer.
"I have no vested interest in that job, but I can lend you a few disposables and three of my skilled men. Two of them are C-ranked, and one is B-ranked like us. They'll follow your instructions, and if you succeed, then I'll stick my neck out for you to join us. My clients would love to get their hands on that noblewoman, so help me deliver her, and I'll squeeze you into our network."
I leaned up from my position and looked at the man with wide eyes. That offer was just too tasty to pass up, and all I would have to do was deliver a spoiled, wannabe-adventurer noblewoman and slay a foxkin. This deal was a steal. Talio had a talent for choosing lucrative arrangements, so if I were to get my foot in the door, I might profit as well. A grin appeared on my face as I stood up and offered him my hand.
"You have a deal, Talio. I'll also borrow those disposables to make our inevitable routing at the goblins' hands seem more...authentic."
Talio accepted my handshake, and with it, our deal was solidified.
"I'll give you this opportunity, Svett, but I recommend that you do not squander it. These particular clients are very determined to complete this job. They have entrusted this to me, but I think you are capable of completing it if you remain vigilant. This can't be like Locarista."
I winced at his mention of Locarista.
"That won't happen again, not to me, " I assured him, but it appeared that he didn't need much convincing. "I'm not an idiot like Merkel. I know my strengths and my weaknesses."
"You've always been good at working within your limitations, so I'll remind you to remain cautious when dealing with these two. Cedarro was a fool but was relatively powerful and reliable, yet the foxkin dominated him back to back. Once in his usual form, the second awakened with his wrath. It took my interference to curb his strength and bring him down. To be accurate, I stabbed him in the back, but not even a few moments later, he rose and contended with Mondar's pet project. You can imagine my surprise when that transpired."
"So you are telling me that the foxkin could give you trouble, Talio?" I questioned the man, amused by his sudden and uncharacteristic praise.
Talio shook his head and laughed at my statement. He was just as amused by his statements as I was by his. He leaned forward and tapped the sword that he placed on his table.
"Of course not. He may be able to give them trouble, but I forced him to heel. I spared his life, and I believe that he has made good on his end of our bargain, which means that his use to me has come to an end." Talio explained, his eyes darkened with malice.
"I'll dispose of him for you, but I recommend that you don't attempt to dispose of me after I do so, " I smirked.
"You're different, Svett, you know that. I have faith in your potential, and it is that faith that is why I am entrusting you with this task. Take command and use my men, and if you do somehow fail, make sure you send a message."
"Hey, now, if I fail?" I laughed and stood from the couch. Talio joined me in laughter before a knock on his door occurred.
"Enter." He said, and as he ordered, the door flew open. "Perfect, just the man that I was looking for."
Standing at the door was a large man with muscles on his muscles. He wore metal chest armor, and chainmail covered his torso and arms. His pants were beige, and his boots were thick and black. This man was the real deal, and I could sense his intensity as he stepped in. The floor whined under his weight after each step as he towered over both of us. He was twice the size of Yami and Yomi, and his short black hair was matted to his forehead.
Scars dotted across his bronze skin as his eyes moved lazily between the two of us. He exhaled, creating a whirlwind when he breathed. I didn't expect such a creature to walk into Talio's office, but I could tell by the man's sheer glee that this man was a welcomed sight.
An air of malice surrounded the man, casting a cloud of dread over him. In typical cases, I would do well to avoid this man, but this was not one of those cases.
"Svett, this is Merkel. You may know him as "The Ravager!" or the "Titan of Destruction," but you can call him my final solution to a foxkin problem."
My eyes widened when I heard his moniker. During my travels in the region around Locarista, I have heard of the Ravager. A man so violent that he was barred from ever joining an adventurer's guild in the area. He was rumored to have killed all of the competing bandit groups in the Bullmount region singlehandedly. Some say that he is like a specter of death. Where the Ravager goes, destruction is imminent.
"J-Just, where did you find this guy?" I whispered to the man, but Talio merely grinned in response.
"Merkel, my good sir, this is Svett; you will be working with him to complete the task we discussed. Together, alongside my other two men, you will eradicate that goblins and complete that task."
The Ravager stared blankly at the man before moving his hateful gaze onto me. My heart sank as he stepped closer to me. Each step casts a shadow on my body despite us being inside. Staring at him was akin to looking at the Grim Reaper.
"We'll get it done." The Ravager spoke in a deep voice akin to a monster's growl.
I didn't expect him to talk, and I hope he never does it again in my presence. Without another word, he turned and left the room, and once the door closed, sunlight dared to creep back inside the windows.
"He knows where to meet you," Talio stated, his confidence returning alongside his smirk. "I've prepared a wagon for your journey, so gather your men and get the job done. My two men, Vail and Whisper, will be waiting for you at the south exit of the training grounds. Try not to keep them waiting, and here's a tip for you once you're out there. If you value your life, Svett, you wouldn't want to anger Merkel."